STOCK. 191 



Little is known of the origin of the Devons among us, 

 though some of their characteristics pervade most of the old 

 native stock. About twenty-five years ago, James Whipple 

 brought to Chester a pure-bred Devon bull from Winsted, Ct., 

 and traces of this animal are still found in western Hampden. 

 Horace M. Sessions and D. B. Merrick, of Wilbraham are now 

 the only breeders of thoroughbred Devons known in the county. 

 This breed makes superior oxen, being active, hardy and tract- 

 able, and some of them rich and generous milkers. 



The Herefords, or white-faced cattle, were first introduced 

 into the county by Campbell and Hamilton, of Huntington. 

 They were brought from New York. There are no thorough- 

 breds known in the county, but grades are abundant in both 

 Montgomery and Chester. 



The Alderneys are of more recent introduction. The first 

 is believed to have been a bull kept by A. K. Abbott, of 

 Chester, in 1857. They are found sparsely in Agawam, 

 Chester, Chicopee, Longmeadow and Springfield. Randolph 

 Stebbins, of Longmeadow, H. J. Chapin, of Springfield, and 

 T. A. Dennison, of Chicopee, have the finest specimens yet 

 exhibited at the county fairs. 



Of sheep, pure Cotswolds may be found with D. B. Merrick, 

 of Wilbraham, South Downs with William Birnie, of Spring- 

 field, and Oxfordshires with Colonel Aaron Bagg, of West 

 Springfield. 



In swine, the Berkshires and Suffolks have successively 

 ruled the day, and the " Chester Counties " now claim the 

 same privilege. M. S. Kellogg, of Chicopee, was one of the 

 original importers and stockholders in the county, and breeds 

 these animals more extensively than any other known. Pure 

 animals of this breed are now scattered in Wilbraham, Agawam, 

 Longmeadow, West Springfield and Springfield. 



On the whole a great improvement is going on throughout 

 the county in the different kinds of stock. The old native 

 stock is not to be despised or rejected simply because not 

 freshly imported, but only because there are better animals to 

 be introduced. Tlie long-legged, narrow-chested, loose-jointed, 

 slab-sided, coarse-haired, and thick-headed stock, must event- 

 ually give way to those of opposite qualities, when such can be 

 obtained. If a well-bred animal leaves his distinctive marks, 



